The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-08


the window and staring out at the misty sea.
ooh, Florence, / am glad that you have
come alone; really began TO feel inclined to
commit suicide"
'Indeed and may ask whyf"
"l don't know; the rain is so depressing,
suppose"
at does not depress me-"
"No, nothing ever does; you live in the
land of perpetual calm.'
II take exercise and keep my liver In good
order. Have you been out this afternoonn
"No."
"Ah, thought not. No wonder you feel
depressed, staying indoors all day. Why
don't you go for walkf'
"There is nowhere to CO."
"Really, Eva, don't know what has como
to you lately. Why don't you go along the
cliff, or, stop-have you been to the post
o1iicel called for the Dums Ness letters,
and Mr.. Brown said that there was one for
you"
Eva jumped up with remarkable anima-
tion and passed out of the room with her
peculiar light tread. The mention of that
word "letter" had sufilced to change the as
pect of things considerably.
Florence watched her go with dark little
smile.
"Ah,n she said aloud as the door closed,
"your feet will soon fall heavily enough"
Presently Eva went out, and Florence, hav-
ing thrown off her cloak took her sisters
place at the window and waited. 1t was
seven minutes walk to the post office. She
would be back in about a quarter of an hour.
Watch in hand, Florence waited patiently.
Seventeen minutes had elapsed when the
garden gate was opened, and Eva re-entered,
her face quite gray with pain, and furtively
applying a handkerchief TO her eyes. Flor
ence smiled again.
81 thought So" she said.
From all of which it will be seen that Flor
ence was very remarkable woman She
had scarcely exaggerated when she said that
her heart was as deep as the sea- The love
that she bore Ernest was the strongest thing
In all her strong and vigorous life; when every
other characteristic and influence crumbled
away and was forgotten, it would still re-
main overmastering as ever. And when she
discovered that her high love, the greatest
and best part Of her had been made play
thing of by thoughtless boy, who kissed
girls on the same principle that duck takes
to water, because it came natural to him. the
love in its mortal agonies gave birth to hate
destined to grow great as itself. But with all
a woman's injustice, it was not directed
toward the same object. On Ernest, indeed,
she would wreak vengeance if she could, but
she still loved him as dearly as at first; the re-
venge would be mere episode in the history
of her passion. But to her sister, the inno-
cent woman who, she chose to consider, had
robbed her, she gave all that bountiful hate.
Herself the more powerful character of the
two, she determined upon the utter destruc-
ton Of the weaker. Strong as fate, and un-
relenting as time, she dedicated her life to
that end Everything, she said, comes to
those who can wait. She forgot that the
Providence above us can wait the longest Of
us all. In theend, it is Providence that wins
Eva came in, and Florence heard her make
her way up the stairs to her room. Again
she spoke to herself
"The poor fool will weep over him and re-
nounce him. If she had the courage she
would follow him and comfort him in his
trouble, and so tie him to her forever Oh,
that had her chance but the chances always
come to foos.'
Then she went up stairs and listened out
side Eva's door, She was sobbing audibly,
Turning the handle, she walked casually in.
swell, Eva, did you Why, my dear
girl, what is the matter with youi"
Eva, who was lying sobbing on her bed,
turned her head to the wall and went on
sobbing
| knew how absurd you lookl"
"No-no-thing."
"Nonsense People do not make such
scenes as this for nothing"
No answer
"Come, my dear, as your affectionate sister
l really must ask what has happened to you"
| The tone was commanding, and half uncon-
sciously Eva obeyed it,
| ernest" she calculated.
| "Well, what about Ernesti He is nothing
70 you, is hef
| "No-that is, yes Oh, it was so dreadful!
| 1t was the letter." and she touched sheet OF
| closely written paper that lay on the bed be.
side her.
"Well, as you do not seem to be in a condi-
ton to explain yourself, perhaps you had
better let me read the letter"
| "Oh, non
"Nonsensel give it me; perhaps may be
able to help YOU" and she took the paper
from her unresisting grasp, and turning her
face from the light read it deliberately
through.
1t was very passionate in its terms, and
rather incoherent such letter, in short, a
a lad almost wild with love and grief would
write under the circumstances.
$780, said Florence, as she coolly folded I
up, "it appears that you are engaged to him.
No answer, unless sobs can be said to con
stitute one
"And it seems that you are engaged to {
man who has just committed a frightfu
murder, and run away from the conse
quences."
| Eva sat up on the bed.
at was not II murder; it was duels
"Precisely; a duel about another woman
but the law calls it murder. If he is caugh
he will be hanged"
"Oh, Florence, how can you say such dread
full things"
a only say what is true. Poor Eva, l d
not wonder that you are distressed"
at is all so dreadful"
"Hou love him, supposep
"Oh, yes, dearly"
"Then you must get over it; you must neve
think of him any more"
"Never think OF him / shall think of hir
all my life"
"That is as it may be. You must neve
have anything more to do with him. He Ina
blood upon his hands, blood shed for som
bad woman
81 cannot desert him, Florence, because b
has got into trouble"
"Over another woman
A peculiar expression Of pain passed Owe
Eva's face
"How cruel you are, Florencel He is onl
a boy, and boys will go wrong sometime
Anybody can make a fool of a boy.n
"Aud it seems that boys can make fools
some people who should know BETTER
"Oh, Florence, what is to be donel Yo
have such clear head; tell me what l mu
do l cannot give him up, | cannot indeed
Florence seated herself on the bed besiC
her sister, and put an arm around her nee
and kissed her. Eva was much touched
her kindness
"My poor Eva" she said, "I am sorry 4
you But tell me, when did you get engag,
to him-that evening you went out sailiI
| togetherN
| "Nesn
Ale kissed you, suppose, and all thati"
"Yes Oh, was so happyp
! "My poor EvaW
~ tell you | cannot give him up"
, SWELL perhaps, there will be no need (
you to do sol But you must not answer tn
/ letter.
"Why not"
"Because it will not do. Look at it whi
way you WILL Ernest has just killed his o,
cousin in a quarrel about another woman.
5 is necessary that you should mark your
approval Of that in some way or other
y not answer his letter. If In tinso he can wa
0 himself clear of the reproach, and renal
A faithful to you, then it will be soon enou
/, to show that you still care for him."
1 "But il | leave him like that, he will
Y into the hands of other women, though
. loves me all the time, know him well;